Last reviewed: 14 March 2022

Welcome to our Global Guide: ‘Access for all – Creating inclusive global built environments’, proudly sponsored by HSBC.

Each organisation is unique, even when it shares similarities with other organisations. Size, location, culture, people, sector, and history all play a part. Being unique is usually considered a business advantage.

However, this does mean that there is rarely a one-size-fits-all solution to making our environments inclusive. Finding innovative approaches and managing inclusion in the built environment is no exception.

This guide aims to bring together relevant information to make it easier for organisations to develop their own global strategies and to meet the goal of providing an inclusive, sustainable and accessible built environment at a global level. The guidance aims to work in conjunction with recognised standard-setting bodies such as the International Accessibility Standard ISO 21542 and / or the UK Standard BS830.

Contents

Part one

The first part of this guide gives some background information and context and includes information on:

• What we mean by terms such as the ‘built environment’
• Why it is essential to look at the built environment and accessibility
• Who to involve and why
• Some of the other considerations to factor in.

Part two

The second part of the guide looks at practical ways to design a more inclusive, accessible, sustainable, and environmentally friendly built environment.

Who is this guide for?

This guide is for everyone actively involved in influencing and making decisions about an organisation’s built environment and accessible estates strategy, especially at a global level. The report is also for anyone who wishes to learn more about making the built environment more accessible and inclusive.

If you’re not a Business Disability Forum Member and would like to learn more, go to: businessdisabilityforum.org.uk/membership.

Acknowledgements

Several of our Members and Partners participated in discussions that informed this report. In addition, we would like to thank the following organisations for their time in our in-depth interviews and contributing case studies to this report:

• GSK
• Unilever
• HSBC
• Freeney Williams
• State Street
• Eli Lilly.

We particularly thank our Partner HSBC for sponsoring this research and report.

© This resource and the information therein are subject to copyright and remain the property of the Business Disability Forum. It is for reference only and must not be copied or distributed without prior permission.

If you require this resource in a different format, contact enquiries@businessdisabilityforum.org.uk.